Bennachie Royal Air Force Stone

The walk up to this modest stone memorial sits about halfway up Bennachie, the distinctive hill that dominates the Aberdeenshire landscape near Pitfichie. It's a short detour from the main footpath, marked by a simple RAF stone commemorating servicemen - nothing grand, just a quiet focal point on the hill.

You'll pass it on the way up if you're doing the full Bennachie circuit, which most walkers are. The stone itself is understated, which somehow makes it more respectful than a flashy monument would be. The real draw is the walk itself - Bennachie gets busy on weekends, and rightly so. On a clear day the views across Aberdeenshire stretch for miles, and you're taking in actual Highland scenery without the crowds of the tourist honeypots further west.

Historically minded visitors will appreciate the significance, though there's no interpretive board to explain much - you get what the stone tells you. It's more atmosphere than information. Allow two to three hours for the full hill walk; you don't need to be particularly fit, just steady on the legs. The memorial itself adds five minutes if you're coming from the south side.

Families with older kids will manage it fine. Younger ones might find the second half a slog. It's free, obviously - just park at the base and set off. If you're staying at Haughton Holiday Park nearby, this is genuinely worth the drive over. The hill rewards a proper morning or afternoon out, memorial or not.